Chapter 63: Feigning Indifference to Entice? A Calculated Seduction?

She finally relaxed. With someone accompanying her, the thunderous night that had once seemed so unbearable suddenly became less frightening.

She drifted off to sleep in a haze, and in the middle of the night, she sensed a warm presence beside her and instinctively burrowed closer to the source of heat.

Pei Qiaonian, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep at all. Lying in bed, he finally saw clearly what the box on the nightstand was. He quickly tossed it into the drawer, afraid that Xu Yunzhuo would get the wrong idea about his intentions. Fortunately, she was simple-minded enough and fell asleep in less than half an hour.

He sat up in bed. He truly couldn’t understand how she could sleep so soundly beside a healthy man, with not the slightest sense of caution.

Pei Qiaonian stared at her for a long time, thinking it was necessary to tell her about his past, and to warn her to keep her distance from Pei Jin and Yan Feixing—none of those men were any good.

While he was deep in thought, a soft, supple body suddenly rolled onto his side, pressing tightly against him, her delicate, boneless arms wrapping around his waist.

Pei Qiaonian’s body stiffened. Looking down, he saw Xu Yunzhuo deeply asleep, her red lips pursing unconsciously, her collar loose and revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin.

This unexpected turn interrupted his train of thought.

He couldn’t help but click his tongue softly. Clingy, even in her sleep she wouldn’t let him go.

He tried to gently push her arm away, but moments later she latched onto him again.

A game of playing hard to get? Deliberate seduction?

Pei Qiaonian shifted toward the edge of the bed. Sorry, he wasn’t falling for that!

But wherever he moved, Xu Yunzhuo seemed to follow him as if equipped with a tracker.

Because of her tossing, her bath towel had come loose, half slipping off. Pei Qiaonian glanced over, then quickly averted his gaze. Yet before long, he reasoned with himself—he’d already seen it before, so what was the harm?

When he looked at her again, his face grew hot.

How could someone sleep so carelessly, letting her clothes slip off like that?

He reached out to pull her bath towel back up, his movements as cautious as a thief’s. In the end, he tied the bow at her waist into a tight knot.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, but Xu Yunzhuo clung to him again, like an octopus.

Faced with the choice of kicking her onto the floor or waking her up, Pei Qiaonian resigned himself to curling up and sleeping.

He had tried shaking her, but she had simply slapped his hand away in her sleep, mumbling complaints for him not to disturb her.

He lay at the very edge of the bed, nearly falling off, and had to scoot back inward. Xu Yunzhuo, like a cat scenting something fishy, nestled into his arms and slept soundly.

He had a headache, doing his best to ignore the sensations and forced himself to sleep.

He thought he would be up all night, but surprisingly, he fell asleep.

It wasn’t until morning, when the warmth in his arms disappeared, that he opened his eyes.

Upon waking, he saw Xu Yunzhuo kneeling awkwardly on the bed, her hair a mess, her doe-like eyes glancing at him guiltily.

Pei Qiaonian looked down at his wrinkled pajamas, the result of her sleeping on him all night, and forced a smile: “Was it comfortable, lying on me all night?”

Xu Yunzhuo was speechless.

“Sorry.”

Pei Qiaonian lifted the quilt, put on his slippers, his expression cold: “Don’t let it happen again. In a few days, I’ll give you the divorce papers. Once you sign them, the ten million will be transferred to your account.”

Xu Yunzhuo’s attention was focused solely on the ten million.

She’d made ten million in just half a month.

She was truly something now.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded and bowed. “Alright, I promise I’ll sign it quickly and won’t pester you.”

“I’ll call a cab back to the production team later.”

Pei Qiaonian glanced at her, lips curling slightly. “I’ll have Assistant Gao drive you—”

“No need!” Xu Yunzhuo had no intention of troubling Pei Qiaonian, nor did she want to attract more attention.

Going there too often wouldn’t look good.

“I’ll take a cab myself.”

With that, she hurried into the bathroom to change.

Pei Qiaonian sat back on the bed.

“Originally, you were only supposed to do one episode of this reality show. I got you a spot for the next one too. And be careful of Ning Qinghuan and Xie Zhiyuan—those two women are not to be underestimated. Also, stay away from Pei Jin and Yan Feixing. I took a million from Pei Jin on your behalf, promising to keep you away from him. Don’t go running back to him. And Yan Feixing—he’s trying to get close to you, and he definitely doesn’t have good intentions.” He rambled on, sounding like a father warning his daughter to be careful when going out.

He didn’t even notice it himself.

Xu Yunzhuo, meanwhile, caught that Pei Qiaonian had earned another million for her.

She finally understood where those ten points of favorability had come from.

It must have been that million, buying out their relationship.

Pei Jin would be at ease now.

Xu Yunzhuo also intended to keep her distance.

Why wouldn’t she agree? So she said, “Alright, I promise to stay far away from them.”

“I’ll be going now.” She bowed to Pei Qiaonian, then slipped away as quickly as she could.

Pei Qiaonian was left speechless.

With Xu Yunzhuo gone, the house instantly felt much emptier.

He shook his head and went into the bathroom to freshen up.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, his face appeared cold and sharp, lacking the liveliness it once held.

He frowned slightly; his features looked even more severe in the mirror.

He leaned in, scrutinizing himself from left to right.

How odd—why did he not look cute anymore?

He used to think his face was rather endearing, but now, it seemed nothing special.

It was just before eight o’clock.

He remembered that today he was to discuss a new energy partnership with the Yan Group—a major project both sides attached great importance to.

He pulled out his phone and immediately caught sight of Xu Yunzhuo’s contact name for him: “Grumpy Guy.”

He couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.

Grumpy Guy?

Was he really that grumpy?

She acted obedient on the surface, but who knows how many times she’d cursed him behind his back.

He didn’t bother to change it; after all, this account now had nothing to do with Xu Yunzhuo.

He dialed Assistant Gao. “What time is it? Why aren’t you up and working?”

“Huh?”

Assistant Gao was still half asleep, but at those words, he shot upright in bed. It wasn’t even eight yet.

He hesitated. “President Pei, didn’t you say I shouldn’t disturb your sleep before nine?”

Why was he up for work so early?

Pei Qiaonian frowned. His biological clock had him up by six-thirty or seven, then breakfast, then work.

His voice was cold. “I want to see you in ten minutes.”

Assistant Gao was speechless.

He didn’t dare say another word and hurried out of bed.

He ordered breakfast for Pei Qiaonian.

So when Pei Qiaonian saw the stomach-soothing millet porridge and nutritious soup, his frown deepened. “I don’t drink porridge or soup in the morning. Did you forget?”

Assistant Gao wiped the sweat from his brow, steadied his breath, and tentatively replied, “But you said recently that you wanted to take care of your stomach. You asked for millet porridge for breakfast and lunch… Should I change it for you?”

He preferred heavier, more flavorful breakfasts, not these bland dishes.

Those were Xu Yunzhuo’s favorites.

He massaged his temples, feeling a headache. “Just leave it. No need to change.”